REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 43 



of the parallel, the Euglish to determine a similar series of astronomical 

 stations, and to survey an equal belt of topography north of the line. 



The astronomical party, in charge of Maj. W. J. Twining, was organ- 

 ized in Saint Paul, Minnesota, ou the 1st of June, and reached the 

 X)oint of operation ou the 1st of July. The shortness of the season, and 

 the great distance to he traveled after the work should be completed^ 

 required that it should be finished early in September. The party was- 

 therefore, pushed to the utmost limit of endurance, and by the 1st of 

 September the eight astronomical stations assigned to the United States 

 had been determined, and the line had been connected with the last 

 previous station of the boundarj^ at the summit of the Eocky Mount- 

 ains. In four months, this expedition accomplished a journey of 3,700 

 miles, besides surveying and marking 358 miles of the boundary-line. 



The topographical party remained in the field both winter and sum- 

 mer from the 1st of June, 1873, until the jiresent time, with the ex- 

 ception of two months in the spring of 1874. They have demonstrated 

 that instrumental work can be done in that high latitude, even in the 

 most rigorous part of the winter, Avhere the country is wooded ; but on 

 the open plains the exposure is dangerous. That i}ortiou crossed by 

 the liue surveyed during 1874 was found to be an open plain, entirely 

 destitute of timber, but easily practicable for wagon-trains, except in 

 the vicinity of Frenchman's Creek and the crossing of Milk River, where 

 wide detours had to be made to avoid the bad-lands. From longitude 

 108° to the crossing of Milk Eiver the country is unattractive, the rain- 

 fall is small, and water consequently scarce during the summer. The 

 soil is alkaline, and produces mostly sage-brush and cactus. From the 

 Sweet-Grass Hills to the Eocky Mountains its character is entirely 

 changed. The rain-fall appears to be ample. The belt along the foot 

 of the mountains, in addition to scenery of rare beauty, presents to the 

 eye of the practical man the more solid advantage of an unsurpassed 

 fertility. Northwestern JMontana is still the range of immense herds of 

 buffaloes, whose numbers, according to Major Twining, contrary to the 

 commonly-received opinion, are constantly increasing. This region is 

 the country of the Blackfoot and Piegau tribes of Indians. It is also 

 the debatable ground of the North Assiuaboines, the Gros Ventres of 

 the prairie, and the Eiver Crows, while an occasional war-party of the 

 Sioux may be found as far northwest as the Sweet-Grass Hills. With 

 the exception of the Sioux, these tribes appear to be peaceably enough 

 disposed. 



Collections and observations in natural history were made at almost 

 every point along the boundary-line by Dr. Elliott Cones, surgeon and 

 naturalist of the expedition, although it is to be regretted that he was 

 not supported by an adequate corps of assistants, particularly in the 

 departments of geology and botany. Large collections were made and 

 sent to the Institution, an account of which is given in the report of 

 Professor Baird. It is to be hoped that ample time may be allowed Dr. 

 Cones for the preparation of his final report, in order that the results of 



